The Grand Canyon

 After a week in Las Vegas, we hit the open road to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and Sedona. With our rental car, we were able to hit a few other places along the way as well. The Hoover Dam and Lake Mead were right along the road so that was a natural stop.
The Grand Canyon

 It's a big hole in the ground, how spectacular could it really be? Well, it's not called the Grand Canyon for nothing. After a week on The Strip in Las Vegas, the wide-open expanse of the Grand Canyon was certainly something to behold. As it would have been had we been anywhere else. It costs $25 to enter, but the pass is good for seven days.



Moose deer welcomed us at the visitor center

 We got to the South Rim the first night just in time to walk for an hour to watch sunset at 7,000 feet from Yavapai Point. With a full day the next day, we took the desert route the opposite way east, stopping at various points along the 25-mile road. As the road wound around, perspective and views changed, with each one seemingly better than the rest.

Other Destinations



 After the day at the canyon we headed to Williams for some rest and to get ready to see the red rocks in Sedona. It took an hour to get there, driving down a mountain and through canyons. Once you make it to the bottom of the road, you get your first best look at the mountains. But the more you drive, the more it opens up and the more it reveals. It was definitely worth the drive.



 



 

Melanie was doing her research and found there was a huge meteor crater about another 40 miles east, so off we went. Not quite Clark Griswold yet, but getting there. After driving through the desert, the crater, which we would learn is the best preserved meteor crater in the world was another six miles off the highway. Apollo 11 astronauts trained there to get a feel for the terrain and how to get rocks out of a crater and there is an American Astronaut Wall of Fame.

Not just a crater, there is also a museum and a 10-minute movie as well as a Subway for the staff who live on-site.

 With some daylight left, we hopped into the family truckster and went another 25 miles to Winslow, as in made famous by the Eagles. In fact, that was the town's big pitch to get people to stop through. So we did the tourist thing and posed with a statue on a corner as the girl in the flatbed Ford slowed down to check us out.    

 After the Grand Canyon and before we checked into our next hotel, we made a stop an exit up the road from Williams and went through Bearizona. A wildlife park that had only been open for four months, it provided us the opportunity to drive through seeing various animals including black bears, burros, and white bison among others.

Accomodations

 There are a few hotels located inside Grand Canyon National Park, but the Holiday Inn Express we stayed in was not, despite what we thought. It was actually located in Tusayan, about four miles from the entrance to the park. It was spacious but was one of the dirtiest hotels we've stayed in despite paying about the same price for a hotel on the Vegas strip.

 We had planned to split the difference between the Grand Canyon and Sedona by staying in Williams for two nights.We had no clue going in it was a tourist destination stop as it was part of the famed Route 66. The Holiday Inn there was reasonably priced and was a nice room with a big flat screen tv. The town was a mix of modern (Safeway) and old rustic like a number of diners that dot the town. 

 Our last day was once again spent in Las Vegas, about a 10-15 walk off the strip. Our room at the Stratosphere was very inexpensive and the room was as nice or better than our room at Ballys. It is a few blocks away from the Las Vegas Convention Center and a number of wedding chapels, like the Little Chapel of the Flowers where Melanie and I were married.

 





"The Joneses"

 You know it's a bad movie when you're on a plane and you don't care about it. Granted I was up at 4 a.m. and was a little sleep deprived, but it was boooooring.
 Star power abounds with Demi Moore and David Duchovny as the heads of a fake family brought to a new neighborhood to sell their neighbors on their lifestyle and the products they possess. They're both pretty bland in their roles. It would have been more fun if they had concentrated more on the in-the-closet son and alcoholic-nymphomaniac twenty-something daughter trying to pose as a teenager.
 I wish I could say how it ended but I fell asleep for the final scene. I wasn't even disappointed.

Stratosphere Sky Jump



Ready to go-I guess

  855 feet and 15 seconds-Not a problem.  Well, maybe a small problem. After arriving in Las Vegas on Sept. 18 it took until the 28^th until I finally made up my mind to jump off the top of the Stratosphere.
 Not a suicide wish, mind you, but Sky Jump, and I guess it was something to do to see if I could muster the courage. Sky Jump has three other spots around the world, including Auckland, New Zealand, where I first saw people jumping off the edge of a hotel in 2008. It turns out it was one of the most freeing, exhilarating moments I’ve had in a while. It took a little bit to get there.
 It was kind of anniversary. Eight years ago on my wedding day in Las Vegas, Asa Schrader and I bungy-jumped off Circus Circus, about 17 stories high. As I mentioned this to one of the handlers at the top of the jump, he said, "You can see we’re quite a bit higher." Great-nice confidence booster there.
 It was actually a lot less nerve-wracking than the bungy jump. I was in a jump suit that was attached to two cables that went all the way down to the landing pad. There was no hanging off the edge and taking a step off, this was more walking to the edge and jumping off. There was a free-fall for a few seconds and then it was controlled the rest of the way. It was such a rush I had to remind myself to look around before the ride was over. I don’t think I focused on it, but our wedding chapel just two blocks from the hotel was in my sightline.


View from the top

  I guess the moments leading up to it were the worst.    

 The elevator taking me to the top seemed to take forever. As my escort and I left the elevator we heard a British woman remark to her companions, "There goes another idiot."

 At that point I still couldn’t totally disagree.

Las Vegas Olympia Weekend Part II

Lou Ferrigno - still The Incredible Hulk

* My camera suffered a meltdown after the Thursday night meet-and-greet, so I have very few usable pictures of the women's prejudging and finals as well as the men's prejudging.*

 Things started happening for real at the Las Vegas Convention Center (South Hall) Friday morning, Sept. 24. The hall was converted into a fitness and nutrition expo with hundreds of booths set up. This was not a place or an event for a person with body issues to attend. While I am in decent shape, I would say close to 80 percent of the people there could be categorized as being in exceptional shape-and these are just the people walking around, not the men and women in the booths promoting their products-or the competitors.

 The stage for the women's prejudging was set up at the back of hall so I had a decent stash of free samples by the time I reached the area. People who paid for seats were in a roped off area and had a closer look at the competitors than the rest of us who chose standing room only. I got a spot along the rope and got ready to watch the Ms. Olympia prejudging.
 When Melanie and I saw we were going to be in Las Vegas during Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend 2010, we were excited to see Zoa Linsey compete in her first Olympia. We knew Zoa from Okinawa where she was a bodybuilder and trainer and who had helped me out a great deal as I tried to transition to becoming a personal trainer myself. I should also recognize the exploits of my mentor and friend Shelly Howard who let me trail her around like a puppy dog for months learning the ropes of personal training. At the 2010 North American Championships-Fitness Class B, Shelly placed fourth. Check her out on links to the left.

 So while I was there to cheer on Zoa, I had to wait for prejudging of the women's fitness, (14), bikini (24) and figure (24) competitors. It was a hardship, but one I was ready to handle. Basically, all the competitors walked onto the stage in two-piece bathing suits, faced the audience, both front and back, then went went off to the side to wait while the rest of the group got their chance to strut their stuff. After all the individuals were on the stage, they were called out in groups to again pose front and back. This might sound easy, but it's a lot of work. These women have to smile longer than any cheerleading squad while maintaining their pose and poise.

.

 With the prejudging done, the groups (not including figure) moved to the Orleans Arena Friday night for the finals as well as the men's prejudging. We had nosebleed seats, but there were huge video screens that let us see the action up close.
 With the posing done for the fitness women, it was action time and we saw some pretty athletic routines. Myriam Cates started the action with a handstand on a folding chair that went to splits. One-armed pushups, many with claps in between, were the norm. It was nice to see it wasn't all just just 20-somethings, 43-year-old Mia Finnegan made her return to the stage after a 15-year absence. 
 The bikini women made their appearance and then the women's bobybuilders showed off for the crowd, flexing during their music-driven routines. Zoa finished out of the money (top 6) but she was awesome, especially since she was performing with a slipped disc in her back.
 Now, as the women bodybuilders were impressive, the men almost made them look tiny. Melanie's favorite part of the prejudging was the back and double biceps flex position. I think my favorite came at the end of the prejudging when they get to show their most muscular pose, which is where all the good crazy faces come out as they strain to bulge. We didn't see the finals as we headed to the Grand Canyon the next day, but I think we saw more than enough.

More Expo Photos



Monica Brant-Former Fitness Olympian and Muscle and Fitness cover model



Six-time Mr. Olympia, Dorian Yates

The best type of mascot job

Las Vegas Olympia Weekend Part I

Thursday, September 23 at Orleans Arena. The official Olympians meet-and greet with the public. Competitors in the Mr. and Ms. Olympia, Fitness, Figure and Bikini Olympia were all there.



Melanie and I with our favorite female bodybuilder, Zoa Linsey, from Okinawa.



After waiting in line for an hour, we got to pose with the three-time, and now four-time Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler. I think you can see his mucles rippling through his shirt. We also think he has awesome hair.



Melanie and Evgeny Mishin. His arm is bigger than my leg.

Fitness competitor Myriam Capes might have been short, but absolutely not on talent as she took home a cool $4,000 for her fourth-place finish.

Who needs to work on their abs in this picture?

The hot-pink pants were a real crowd pleaser

Las Vegas Part II

  The food at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill was as delicious as it was nice to look at

 With all the people in Las Vegas there’s a lot of mouths to feed and The Strip does a good job of having something for everyone. In our week here thus far, I would like to think that Melanie and I had a suitable sample of various offerings. We didn’t head for the classic inexpensive buffets as we are trying to watch our portion sizes. Well, we did that OK with one notable exception.

The Food

 I start with the notable exception, Hash House a Go Go. Melanie has gotten me watching food shows and one we recently discovered is "Man vs. Food" in which host Adam Richman travels to various cities and attempts to satisfy his inner gourmet-and glutton. Following his lead, on our second day there, armed with a 2-for-1 lunch coupon, we hit the Imperial Palace on Las Vegas Boulevard, home of HHAGG. Melanie ordered Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken Benedict, which Richman featured, while I choose the Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles. I think the table legs buckled just a bit when our plates were set in front of us. Mine consisted of two fried chicken breasts atop four thick waffles with barbecue sauce ringing the plate. I finished a chicken and a half and three of the waffles, although I think I could have held up my end had I not also taken part of Melanie’s (delectable) monstrosity of biscuits, eggs, mashed potatoes, and fried chicken covered with a layer of fried-yes fried-cheese. Melanie covered it succintly saying "I’m drunk with food."

Cabo Wabo
 Sammy Hagar’s indoor-outdoor joint located between Paris and Planet Hollywood on Las Vegas Boulevard draws you in with its good music-to be expected from the Red Rocker-and keeps you there with its atmosphere and good Mexican food. We went on a Tuesday night but it felt like a weekend. The waitresses were dancing on the bar then handing out free shots of tequila for anyone with an ID card, then handed out free shots of tequila for anyone singing karaoke. Too bad free shots of tequila didn’t come with ordering a meal.

Le Burger Brasserie
 Located inside between the casinos of Ballys (our hotel) and Paris, we expected to find a burger joint and for me it became so much more. Looking for lunch before I headed to Ballys' sports bar to watch the Redskins’ game Sunday afternoon, we landed on Le Burger Brasserie. We had walked by it before when it was closed, so I didn’t notice the words after the name-Sports Grille. Melanie was a good sport, being hungry helped, and we got to watch the day’s early games on multiple televisions while eating a delicious hamburger cooked to perfection. It was reasonably priced and we enjoyed the food so much we made it back for lunch two days later. They have a few items other than hamburgers; chicken and some salads, but it was the beef that brought us back.

Mesa Grill 
 Another show Melanie has got me watching is "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." So when she mentioned he had a restaurant in town, of course we had to go. Located in Caesar’s Palace across the street from Ballys, it’s food fit for a king or an emperor. I always thought at fancy restaurants you paid a lot for a little portion of pretentious-looking food. Nothing could be further from the truth at Mesa Grill. The food was beautifully arranged, like artwork on a plate, from the appetizer through dessert. I started with barbecuedduck ($11) followed by New Mexico pork tenderloin ($32)–three great portions of spicy meat-which Flay is known for, then Melanie and I shared dessert, a crushed blueberry lime tart ($12). And I can’t forget the basket of bread which included three different types of bread and a delicious corn muffin. We killed that basket off quick and got a refill. Service was attentive from start to finish and we had to wave them off to stop them from refilling our water glasses. I don’t think we’ll see a restaurant of this caliber back home in Grovetown.

The Accomodations 
 Everything taken with a grain of salt as the room at Ballys is paid for by her work since she’s attending a conference in the hotel. The room is decent, and the hotel convenience store is open 24 hours a day. The pool is fairly large and waitresses will bring drinks to your lounge chair. Its location is in the middle of the strip on Las Vegas Boulevard across the street from Caesar's Palace and Bellagio, which has a good water show every night on the hour beginning at 7 p.m. For the cost of the room, which I think runs close to $200 a night I would have thought that internet access would be free, not $14 a day and I chose not to workout at their gym which would have cost me $22 a day. I don’t know what policies the others have, but I imagine Ballys is in line with the other major hotels. 

Week 3 predictions

If there is anything I've learned through the first two weeks of the season it's that I don't know what to expect out of some teams. Dallas at 0-2 is a little unexpected, but I'm overjoyed, of course. The Lions haven't posted a win yet, but they've been close each time, Seattle fell back to earth and the Chargers looked like who I thought they'd be in Week 2. Road teams have not fared well yet this season, so of course I'm picking a host of road-dogs this week.

Last Week: 7-9  straight up (18-14 to date)

                     6-9-1 vs. the spread (16-15-1 to date)

My predicting might not be so great, but on the bright side I'm 2-0 in three of my FF leagues, 1-1 in another and 0-2 in the one in which my players were picked by the computer.

Dallas Cowboys at
Houston Texans
Line: Texans -3
The Texans squeaked by the Redskins last week, but now they’re back at home. Matt Schaub tears apart the Cowboys defense and the Cowboys’ struggling offense can’t keep up even though the Texans have been giving up bunches of yards and points. It’s much like the preseason mismatch. The dream of a home Super Bowl dies this week. Texans: 34-20

Buffalo Bills at
New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -14
Back in the friendly confines of Foxboro, The Patriots shake off their loss to the Jets with the sad Bills in town. Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to start at QB for the Bills, but the outcome is the same as it has been this season. Patriots 28-13

Cleveland Browns at
Baltimore Ravens
Line: Ravens -10.5
The Browns have been close this year, but the hometown crowd gets Joe Flacco on track and he responds with a big game. Ravens:27-6

Atlanta Falcons at
New Orleans Saints
Line: Saints -4
The Saints haven’t looked that impressive, but you can’t argue with 2-0. Jason Snelling gets the call again with all the other running backs injured for the Falcons, but these aren’t the Cardinals. Saints: 33-17

Tennessee Titans at
New York Giants
Line: Giants -3
Will Vince Young start-will Vince Young finish? Eli Manning gets on a roll and that opens the door for Ahmad Bradshaw and the running game. Giants: 21-17

Cincinnati Bengals at
Carolina Panthers
Line: Bengals -3
The Bengals’ D surrenders an average of 24 points a game, but the Panthers score an average of 12.5 ppg. The Panthers will need a running game to keep the Bengals off newbie Jimmy Claussen. It won’t happen. Bengals:24-12

San Francisco 49ers at
Kansas City Chiefs
Line: 49ers -2.5
The Chiefs need to hope it rains again with the 49ers coming in off improved play against the Super Bowl champs. Frank Gore is too much for the Chiefs to handle and Patrick Willis introduces himself to Matt Cassel. 49ers: 24-20.

Pittsburgh Steelers at
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Steelers -3
The Steelers have been underdogs the first two weeks and won both. Charlie Batch looks to get his first start under center and did well in the past in relier work. The Bucs are 2-0 but haven’t faced a team the caliber of the Steelers yet. Steelers: 27-9

Detroit Lions at
Minnesota Vikings
Line: Vikings -11
The Lions haven’t won at Minnesota in over a decade, but 11 points is optimistic for a Vikings team that has struggled offensively. The Vikings get their first win of the season, but the Lions easily cover the spread for the third-consecutive time this year. Vikings:20-17

Washington Redskins at
St. Louis Rams
Line: Redskins -3.5
The Redskins came alive against the Texans with three touchdowns while the Rams’ offense sputtered. If the Redskins’ defense keeps the heat on, Sam Bradford has a day to forget and Steven Jackson will be neutralized. Redskins:30-17

Philadelphia Eagles at
Jacksonville Jaguars
Line: Eagles -3
The Eagles decided Kevin Kolb is not the QB of the future with the start of Michael Vick. It’s the right week to make a change as the Jags come off a beatdown from the Chargers. The Jags shut down the running game, but Vick makes enough plays to pull the Eagles through. Eagles: 21-17

San Diego Chargers at
Seattle Seahawks
Line: Chargers -5
The line must only be at –5 with the Seahawks at home. The Chargers put up 38 points against the Jaguars and shouldn’t get much less than that against the Seahawks who surrendered 31 points to the Broncos. It’s another ugly week for the Seahawks. Chargers: 31-10

Oakland Raiders at
Arizona Cardinals
Line: Cardinals -4.5
Ugly game of the week with teams that are evenly matched on paper. It won’t matter who the Raiders start at quarterback as the Cardinals’ offense gets untracked. Cardinals:24-13

Indianapolis Colts at
Denver BroncosLine: Colts -5.5
The Colts got their running game in gear against the Giants in Manning Bowl II last Sunday night, but Peyton and Reggie Wayne take care of business even though they’ll be pushed by an improved Broncos squad. Colts:31-20

New York Jets at
Miami Dolphins
Line: Dolphins -2
I had no faith in Mark Sanchez last week and he pulled it out, but now after splitting their first two games at home, Sanchez struggles on the road against the Dolphins in a key AFC East game. Was Braylon Edwards chasing Ines Sainz when he was pulled over? Dolphins: 17-14

Green Bay Packers at
Chicago Bears
Line: Packers -3
Another score for MNF as the 2-0 Packers face the 2-0 Bears in a NFC North battle. The Bears got a break in week 1, got a break in week 2 (facing the Cowboys) but the breaks end there. Packers: 24-20

Las Vegas - Part I

 What can you say about Vegas? It's glitz, it's glamour, it's gambling. It's also pretty damn hot which isn't helped by the mass of humanity that crowds the streets every day. And I'm not the most fashionable guy, but sometimes with the women it's hard to tell the difference between fashion and hooker.
  Where to start? We've gambled some, but I don't do very well at the tables so I mostly watch Melanie wind her way through the casinos working the slots. I don't think gambling is what attracts people so much these days as is the ability to smoke inside. And the casinos are where gamblers will probably come to die. Much like the little old ladies I see at the slots; cigarette in mouth, drink in one hand and the onset of carpal-tunnel syndrome from grasping the handle for hours at a time.
 When Melanie and I got married here eight years ago we were more concentrated on that event than on seeing shows so we're making up for time we lost. We also stayed at the Hilton last time, which is about five miles off the strip, but it might as well be a million miles with the difference between staying there and at Ballys in the heart of the action.

Shows
  If you want to enjoy the shows, it helps if you don't have body issues, at least not for the ones we've seen. For me, the shows begin and end with Cirque du Soleil. We saw them in Tokyo Disneyland and thought they were incredible so we naturally were attracted to them paying homage to Elvis Presley with Viva Elvis. Out of all the shows in Vegas, Cirque must employ the most athletic performers, best dancers and the greatest musicians. I don't think that's an overstatement, but it is impressive seeing as how they have no less than three shows running on the strip right now, not to mention how many other shows they have going around the world. They take you on an hour and a half journey through the life of The King with video clips of Elvis as a backdrop to live singing and dancing while seamlessly mixing in acrobatics. It would take way to long to describe everything, but I recommend seeing Cirque if at all possible. The only complaint I have, and it mainly is aimed at Aria where the show is, is that our seats had some blind spots. We didn't get the most expensive seats, but we certainly didn't get the cheapest either and I expected a little better than that.

  Timing is everything, and in this case it counts for Jubilee!, which we saw two days before Viva, right there in Ballys. Melanie and I enjoyed it, but maybe we wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if we hadn't seen it first. Billed as a standard Las Vegas show, Jubilee has hundreds of showgirls-topless from the get-go. I'm not opposed to topless showgirls, but it was a little distracting as my head was on a swivel trying to take it all in. Oh, there were also guys in the show. There was nothing sexual in nature with it; the girls, who were in phenomenal shape, just happened to have their breasts exposed. As the show progressed,  however, they seemed to put more clothes on each time they switched sets, but they were back to near-naked by the end. Whew! Not all shows are for those over 18, Sunday afternoon they featured a PG-13 version. One of the acts apart from the dancing were two guys performing acts of strength, mainly featuring balancing acts that required amazingly strong abs. These guys were awesome, but I have a feeling they are going to pale in comparison when we head to the Mr. and Mrs. Olympia show later in the week. More on that to come.

 The Price is Right Live - Also at Ballys in the Jubilee Theater, it takes the best of the heralded television show and makes it into an entertaining afternoon with the chance to win fabulous prizes. With Melanie involved at her conference, I took the afternoon to see if I could win something. It cost $40, or about 15 minutes at a blackjack table for me, and even though I never got the call to be a contestant, it was still entertaining. The host was none other than Joey Fatone. Long gone from his boy-band days, Fatone was a great host, funny and able to interact-and ad-lib-with those called to the stage.
 Another great feature of Ballys is they play host to a television survey company called Hollywood Previews. After TPIRL, I was able to go and watch a TV show called "Harry's Law," created by David E. Kelley. I did one of these things years before with Mike and Marie Winterson and I believe the comment about the show we watched was 'I would rather have my eyes gouged out with red-hot pokers than watch this again.' So, unfortunately, I felt I couldn't use that comment again, though I really wanted to. If it does make it to network television, I might watch the first show to see if they've changed it from its original concept, but that would probably be it. It's a shame it sucked so bad because it had some major talent in it, namely Kathy Bates as the lead character. The best thing about it was I got $20 to participate.

- More to Follow -

Week 2 Predictions

Last Week: 11-5  straight up

                     10-6 vs. the spread

Buffalo Bills at

Green Bay Packers

Line: Packers -13

13 points feels like a lot to give, but the Packers defense faces an underwhelming Bills' offense that managed 10 points and 166 total yards. Brandon Jackson steps in for the injured Ryan Grant and rushes for a score to complement the Packers' potent passing attack. Packers: 31-10

 

Baltimore Ravens at

Cincinnati Bengals

Line: Ravens -2

The Ravens are coming off a tough 10-9 win over the Jets on Monday night, but their air attack is too much for the Bengals to handle. Derrick Mason looks like the Ravens' third or fourth option and that does not bode well for opposing secondaries. The Bengals had issues in all facets of the game and those struggles continue. Ravens: 24-17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at

Carolina Panthers

Line: Panthers -3.5

Carolina overcomes their propensity for turnovers (5) and Matt Moore makes better decisions or Jimmy Clausen makes another appearance. The Bucs' winning streak stops at one. Panthers: 27-13

Kansas City Chiefs at

Cleveland Browns

Line: Browns -1.5

The Chiefs opened with a strong performance from it's first-year players, including a punt return touchdown from Dexter McCluster. Jake Delhomme may be out for the Browns and Seneca Wallace hasn't proven he's anyone's answer yet. The Chiefs open the season 2-0. Chiefs: 20-10

Pittsburgh Steelers at

Tennessee Titans

Line: Titans -5

The Steelers are underdogs for the second-consecutive week. The Titans will get their first test of the season after spanking the still disappointing Raiders. The Steelers' Dennis Dixon learned valuable lessons in week 1 and applies them to eke out another win. Steelers: 17-14.

Chicago Bears at

Dallas Cowboys

Line: Cowboys -8

The Cowboys get healthy against the Bears, but it isn't easy. The offensive line struggles once more, but they are able to open enough holes for Felix Jones to have a fantasy-friendly day. Cowboys: 20-14

Arizona Cardinals at

Atlanta Falcons

Line: Falcons -6.5

Atlanta rebounds from an ugly overtime loss to the Steelers.  Michael Turner averages over two yards a carry and the defense keeps Derek Anderson on the run. The Cardinals were lucky to get by a young Rams squad but on the road their luck runs out. Falcons: 17-13

Philadelphia Eagles at

Detroit Lions

Line: Eagles -4.5

Which team will survive with their second-string QB. The Eagles' chosen one is most likely out and the team will be in a dogfight with Michael Vick at the helm. OK-that was a cheap and easy shot. The Lions have Shaun Hill but they also have Calvin Johnson who knows to keep the football off the ground at all costs. Hill is a former Terp and I can't vote against that. Lions: 21-20

Miami Dolphins at

Minnesota Vikings

Line: Vikings -5.5

The Dolphins have a good defense, but luckily for the Vikings it isn't as good as the Saints'. Brett Favre has had another 10 days to get on the same page with his receivers and can you really go wrong with AP in the backfield. Vikings:28-16

Seattle Seahawks at

Denver Broncos

Line: Broncos -3.5

The Seahawks came out flying against the 49ers, but can they keep that momentum going on the road against the Broncos. The Seahawks running game was anemic last week and they will struggle through the air against the Broncos. Broncos: 24-14

St. Louis Rams at

Oakland Raiders

Line: Raiders -3.5

The Rams get their first win in the Sam Bradford era if he doesn't have to pass 55 times-and he doesn't. Steven Jackson rushes for over 100 yards and a late fourth-quarter interception seals the deal. Rams: 21-20

Houston Texans at

Washington Redskins

Line: Texans -3

Both teams suffer a hangover from emotional wins over division rivals, but at home the Redskins find a way to win again. The Redskins fix their issues with run defense and matchup well against the Texans' wideouts. Donovan McNabb gets the Skins in the end zone early and they run the clock out late. Redskins: 24-23

New England Patriots at

New York Jets

Line: Patriots -1.5

Will the Jets overcome their sloppy, mistake-filled performance against the Ravens? No-they go 0-2 and New York goes crazy. It will be more of a contest for the Patriots than it was in their win over Cincinnati, but the Jets offense is still underwhelming. Patriots: 17-7

Jacksonville Jaguars at

San Diego Chargers

Line: Chargers -7.5

The Jaguars get their second-consecutive AFC West opponent, but the Chargers come in out of the rain and their offense clicks. The Chargers struggled against the run and MJD will get his, but the Chargers' resolve is too much for the Jaguars to overcome. Chargers: 20-17

New York Giants at

Indianapolis Colts

Line: Colts -5.5

Last time the two Mannings met was the 2007 season-opener which the Colts won 27-21 en route to the Super Bowl. The Colts and Giants played against teams of different caliber and the mad Colts will even their record with a better effort against the run. The loss of Bob Sanders will hurt, but offensively they turn it up to win a close one. Colts: 31-24 

New Orleans at

San Francisco

Line: Saints -5

The Saints don't suffer a hangover from their week 1 win over the Vikings. The Niners are in disarray and Drew Brees carves up the secondary and the defense makes the ordinary Alex Smith look even worse. The Saints are favored by five, but the 49ers need more help than that. Saints: 30-14

Redskins Open In Style

 When I bought season tickets for the Redskins, (thanks Melanie) I was a bit worried that driving up from Georgia each week to be at the game in person wouldn't be that much different than watching it on TV.

 Thankfully, I was wrong.

 The nine hours up and nine hours back all became worth it even while just approaching FedEx Field for the Redskins 2010 home-opener against the hated Dallas Cowboys. Despite a rainy day throughout the afternoon and the Skins coming off a 4-12 record the year before, the electricity was palpable when we stepped out of the car in the cash parking lot, a good quarter-mile from the stadium.

 We got there two hours before the game and tailgaiting was in full swing. The walk to the stadium was interesting, seeing people dressed in all sorts of outfits from the standard jersey-wearing to elaborate costumes. And again, since it was the Cowboys, there was no let-up to the good-natured (mostly) bantering between fans on both sides.

 The most important thing I found about the walk to the stadium is remembering the route you took so you can find your way back afterward. We were making great time to the car after the game but discovered we had walked about 10 minutes the exact opposite way from where we were parked. That didn't seem so bad in retrospect as we sat in the car for an hour and a half waiting to get out of the parking lot.

 I hadn't been to FedEx Field since the Redskins beat the Detroit Lions in the playoffs in the 90s-living overseas will do that to you-so I don't really know the difference between the video boards, but the ones at the field now are crystal-clear and well, awesome. That was a good thing so we could see the important things happening on the field closeup, like the cheerleaders. From our seats in the upper deck, the football game was laid out right before us, but the boards were great for watching replays. And we were in a perfect spot for the action. DeAngelo Hall's touchdown at the end of the first half happened in front of us as did the Cowboys final, failed drive.

Much like outside, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric and it felt like that last playoff game. Will it be like that later in the season when Tampa Bay comes to town, we'll see. We had two Cowboys' fans in front of us, but they weren't obnoxious like some of the others near us, but of course it goes both ways with the alcohol flowing freely. Well, maybe not so freely. I thought five bucks for a beer was bad before, so $8 seems a little outlandish, but that's the way it goes.

 The game was great and I can't wait to get back, even with the commute. The best thing about the nine-hour drive home was that it gave me a chance to get my voice back. 

National Zoo day

 One of the things my wife Melanie and I enjoy doing when we go somewhere is to check out the local zoo. And even though I'm from the area and been have been there a number of times throughout my life, our latest trip to the DC area included a trip to the National Zoo.

Cheetahs are just one type of animal at

the zoo.

 The zoo is just one of the jewels in the treasure trove that is the Smithsonian Institution. While located in the heart of the city on Connecticut Avenue with its own parking lot, the Metro's Woodley Park Zoo stop puts you within easy walking distance. And while you have to pay for entry to all the other zoos-at least I have-the National Zoo is free.

 Panda bears Ling-Ling and Sing-Sing were always the main attractions growing up but these days I like the big cats and the apes. On a hot day, the cats didn't do much more than rest in the sun and the apes didn't interact with the viewing public much but I still found them entertaining.

Roar or yawn? You be the judge

Greenjackets have great year-fail to make postseason

 For the second-consecutive year, the Augusta Greenjackets finished with the best overall record (79-59) in the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division and for the second-consecutive season failed to make the league’s playoffs.  Like eight other minor league systems, the South Atlantic League uses a split-season format in which division leaders from the first and second half advance to the league’s playoffs. The Greenjackets finished second in the first half of the season with a 41-29 mark, one game behind Savannah; then finished 38-30, good for a third-place finish, 2.5 games behind Greenville in the season’s second half.
 Despite failing to make the postseason, Greenjackets’ General Manager Nick Brown, who was recently named the South Atlantic League’s General Manager of the Year, was pleased with his team’s performance.
 "We're all really proud of the way the GreenJackets played hard this season and finished with the best overall record in the Southern Division," Brown said in an e-mail. "The success of the team on the field was one of the reasons we were able to set a new single-season attendance record this year for the third time in the last four years."  Having been through it all before, Brown and the team knew what they had to accomplish to make it to the league playoffs.
 "Many minor leagues opt to have a split-season format during the regular season and going into it, we all know the pluses and minuses of it," Brown said. "The good thing is that more teams have a chance to contend for longer in the season while the downside is that occasionally situations happen like what happened to the GreenJackets in the last two years where the team with the best overall record doesn't qualify for the postseason."
 The split-season playoff is used for competitive balance explained South Atlantic League President Eric Krupa.
 "Typically, clubs in the SAL experience a number of roster changes in the middle of June," Krupa said. "The reasons for this include the amateur draft in early June, rosters for all of the Minor League affiliates tend to change as the short-season league begin play (in mid-June) and decisions are made about whether to promote, demote, or release players at other levels. From a competitive standpoint, it makes sense to reset the standings and begin with zero wins and zero losses for the second half of the season."

"The American"

**Spoiler alert-if you actually decide to see this movie**

 For a while I couldn't decide if it was boring or if it was a stylish thriller that I was supposed to be appreciating on some level. Yep, just boring; an opinion affirmed by those exiting the theater with us and those who left before it was over.
 I think George Clooney has been in every movie Steven Soderbergh has made (99 percent of which I have not liked) and as producer has channeled his mentor's slow-paced, drag every scene out style. Clooney is in just about every shot, but the only emotion we get from him is intense brooding. Two hours of that is just way too much. He gets shot in the end, but they could have done that halfway into the film and I would have appreciated the time they saved us.
 Plot stuff-he's a spy or mercenary of some sort trying to evade assasination by "The Swedes" and is hiding out in a tiny Italian village. He is going to do one last job and then get out of the business and retire to Hoboken with his hooker girlfriend Clara, played by the stunning Violante Placido. Even Placido's frequent nudity is not enough to save this movie.
 It may be billed as an action film, but almost all the action in the movie is literally in the previews. I hope to never see it again and give it $3 out of $11-all $3 for Placido.

Week 1 Predictions

We enter the year of the ankle. Donovan McNabb's is better, Byron Leftwich's isn't and who knows what toll the season will take on Brett Favre's. Big Ben and Santonio Holmes start late and will Albert Haynesworth even get started and for which team? No matter what twists and turns the season takes, the next four months should be the best four months of the year.

**Until they prove they can't be trusted with a winning prediction, the Redskins will get the nod in all my prognosticating.**

Minnesota Vikings at

New Orleans Saints

Line: Saints -4.5

The NFC Championship rematch is no less thrilling but doesn't quite come down to the wire. Brett Favre takes a shot for his ankle, but takes even more from the Saints defense. In the end, Percy Harvin isn't the only one with a headache. Saints 27-17

Dallas Cowboys at

Washington Redskins

Line: Cowboys -3.5

McNabb has struggled against the Cowboys lately, but with a new team and some extended time off in the preseason, he is more than up to the challenge. The Redskins' switch to the 3-4 defense facilitates a key turnover late as the Cowboys offense still isn't firing on all cylinders. Redskins 17-10

Miami Dolphins at

Buffalo Bills

Line: Dolphins -3

The Dolphins get their season off to a flying start as Chad Henne and Brandon Marshall connect for two scores. CJ Spiller makes the highlight reel for the Bills but it's not enough. Dolphins 21-10

Indianapolis Colts

at Houston Texans

Line: Colts -2

Scary to think that on some level this is a must-win for the Texans if they want to make some noise in the AFC this year. The Colts don't usually lose their first game until the 13th week of the season, but on the road against a Texan squad with offensive weapons, it's another fight to the finish. Colts 27-24

Detroit Lions at

Chicago Bears

Line: Bears -6

Will the genius Mike Martz get Jay Cutler to throw to Bears players instead of the opposition? The Lions are improving with Matthew Stafford at the helm, but they don't take that first step just yet. Bears 21-17

Atlanta Falcons at

Pittsburgh Steelers

Line: Falcons -2.5

Bowie State University's Isaac Redman provides punch at the goalline for the Steelers as the running game rules the roost. Dennis Dixon rushes for almost as many yards as he passes for and Matty-Ice is still cold.

Steelers 17-14

Cleveland Browns at

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Line: Bucs -3

Running back Jerome Harrison finished the season strong for the Browns and the Bucs had the worst rush defense in 2009. Which Jake Delhomme will show up-the one who led the Panthers to the Super Bowl or the one who played his way out of Carolina? One of the league's cellar-dwellers starts the year 1-0.

 Browns 14-13

Cincinnati Bengals at

New England Patriots

Line: Patriots -4.5

Randy Moss is starting to make waves while things are surprisingly quiet with the divas on the Bengals' sideline. Moss makes plenty of noise on the field and the Patriots get their 2010 campaign off to a positive start. Patriots 20-17

Denver Broncos at

Jacksonville Jaguars

Line: Jaguars -2.5

Maurice Jones-Drew said he doesn't have a knee injury, but the Jaguars get their feeling hurt at home as Kyle Orton and the Broncos continue where they left off in the preseason. Broncos 24-17

 Oakland Raiders at

Tennessee Titans

Line: Titans -6.5

Will Chris Johnson rush for 2,000 yards in 2010? Will the Silver and Black re-emerge as a force to be reckoned with? Jason Campbell has another new offense to learn and while being green is good for the environment, it's not great for a receiving corps yet. Titans 17-10

Carolina Panthers at

New York Giants

Line: Giants -7

If the Panthers get into a pickle at QB, will they turn to Jimmy Clausen? The Panthers will need to keep the ball on the ground if they want to have a chance. Eli Manning stays upright, however, and they open their new home with the win. Giants 24-14

San Francisco 49ers at

Seattle Seahawks

Line: 49ers -2.5

Pete Carroll has a positive outlook but his return to the NFL is anything but. The Niners get a jump in the NFC West race as Alex Smith spreads the ball around and Frank Gore doesn't get hurt.

49ers 28-7

Arizona Cardinals at

St. Louis Rams

Line: Cardinals -4

It's the Sam Bradford era vs. the Derek Anderson era. Anderson has more toys to play with and Bradford realizes the preseason is over. Anderson doesn't exactly shine, but it's enough to get by the Rams.

Cardinals 16-7.

Green Bay Packers at

Philadelphia Eagles

Line: Packers -3

Will the Eagles regret getting rid of Donovan McNabb? Maybe not in time, but this is not the opener they wanted with the high-powered Packers in town. The Eagles' D will try to keep them in the game, but they can't overcome too many Kevin Kolb mistakes. Packers 31-10

Baltimore Ravens at

New York Jets

Line: Jets -2

No man is an island-well maybe Darrelle Revis is- but can the Jets' D keep up with the Ravens' improved receiving corps. Attention to the vertical opens things up for Ray Rice and the Jets anemic offense can't get untracked. Another bad night for Mark Sanchez. Ravens 20-13

San Diego Chargers at

Kansas City Chiefs

Line: Chargers -5

LT has departed and Vincent Jackson isn't playing anytime soon, but the Bolts have more than enough weapons to handle a Chiefs team that could surprise some in 2010. Ryan Matthews has his coming out party rushing for over 100 yards. Chargers 34-17